On March 1st we began the process of moving to Los Angeles to continue with preproduction. We left NYC because we felt that we needed a change of scenery. When we arrived in Los Angeles, we moved into an extremely haunted mansion called ‘The Paramour.’ This house had a huge history of odd and mysterious things occurring inside.
Some of us laughed it off; others (cough, cough, me) found the house frightening. As luck would have it, I would end up in the scariest (and later found from past residents) and most haunted room. To add to it, there was a single light bulb hanging from the ceiling that didn’t provide light, but an eerie glow. Dogs barking at thin air, doors slamming in front of people (Frankie and Gerard) and bathtubs filling with water when no-one was home (Bob).
We set up shop in a huge ballroom, chock full of creepy paintings, furniture, and statues. The material started to flow and coincidentally, the sound became more sinister, and the riff and lyrics more biting. Songs such as ‘This Is How I Disappear’ and ‘Mama’ had these booming sinister sections. Songs such as ‘Sleep’ and ‘Famous Last Words’ poured out. ‘I Don’t Love You’ became even more biting and sorrowful (as if it wasn’t already). Song after song was painted beautifully and painfully. We took out every frustration, screamed for every hope, and spoke out of our minds, night after night.
Mikey Way, The Black Parade Special Edition Booklet
